APPLICANTS FOR HOSPITAL BELIEF.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 398, 9 November 1868, Page 3

APPLICANTS FOR HOSPITAL BELIEF.

(2b the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus). Sin, —I have just seen in your issue of yesterday a letter in reference to Hospital matters, in which a certain case is brought forward as an instance of the alleged hardship and extortion to which applicants for Hospital relief are exposed. The statement of the case is so much at variance with the real facts, and is calculated to produce such an erroneous impression, that lam compelled to challenge it, and have to ask you to kind! y allow me space to give these facts as they actually occurred. On the afternoon of the 9th of Oct., I was sent for to the Hospital, to see a man named Alfred Adams, who had just walked down from the Caledonian. I went directly and examined the man, found a dislocation of the shoulder, and at once reduced it, without reference to " guinea tickets," the man's means,or anything else but the injury. The man was then free and fit to go as he had come. There was no other injury but the one which I had remedied, and no necessity for keeping him in Hospital. Such cases do not pass beyond the accident-room of a Home Hospital. He appeared, however, to wish to remain ; partly because the ■weather was bad. and he did not care to go +o an hotel. I told him he could remain for a day or two if he liked to pay the mainteaance money, but that the nature of his case did not make it necessaiy for him to stay. On enquiry into his circumstances, I was informed by his mate, that he was receiving from £(5 to £7 a week. He agreed to this, and stayed until the fourth day, the weather continuing bad. On his leaving the Hospital I explained to him the rules and objects of such institutions, with a view to their becoming more generally known than they appear to be pointing out to him that such cases and circumstances as his own, for instance, not needing Hospital residence, did not fairly come within that class of patients for whose behoof such Hospitals were established. He enquired my fee in similar cases. I replied that to a private patient it was five guineas, but from him I wanted nothing beyond the maintenance money for" which I held myself responsible to the Hospital. He then left, stating his intention of forwarding the money, together with a fee, which I again told him I did not require him to do, since which time I have seen or hoard n/thing more from him. I have confined myself to the simple facts of this case without entering into the question raised by " a Subscriber's " letter, viz; whether any or every one who presents a card •acknowledging a subscription from

the bearer or another, is justly entitled to claim, irrespective of his circumstances, or the nature of his case, the gratuitous services of Your ohdt. servant, The Medical Officer To the Westport District Hospital. "Westport, Nov. 5, ISGB.